{"id":9665,"date":"2025-05-19T02:05:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T23:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/?p=9665"},"modified":"2026-04-20T18:53:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T15:53:47","slug":"analysis-of-the-heart-why-this-is-not-just-a-formality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medilab.km.ua\/en\/analysis-of-the-heart-why-this-is-not-just-a-formality\/","title":{"rendered":"Fasting blood tests: why it's not just a formality"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Patients often hear from their doctor: \u00abCome for tests on an empty stomach.\u00bb But not everyone understands what this means, for which tests it is critically important, and for which, on the contrary, it can cause errors. In this article, we will look at which tests should be taken on an empty stomach, what exactly is considered fasting, and how improper preparation affects the results.<\/p>\n

What does "on an empty stomach" mean?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The medical definition of "fasting" is a state where a person did not eat for at least 8\u201312 hours before taking the test<\/strong>. In this case, it is allowed drinking clean water<\/strong> without gas, sugar, coffee or tea.
Eating activates metabolism, changes the chemical composition of the blood, and can distort indicators, especially glucose, lipids, and enzymes.<\/p>\n

What tests should be taken on an empty stomach?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Analysis type<\/th>\nWhy it's important to be on an empty stomach<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Blood glucose<\/strong><\/td>\nFood directly affects blood sugar levels<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Insulin, C-peptide<\/strong><\/td>\nResults depend on glycemic background<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lipid profile (cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides)<\/strong><\/td>\nLipid levels temporarily increase after eating<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Bilirubin, ALT, AST, GGT<\/strong><\/td>\nLiver tests change when digesting fats<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Complete blood count<\/strong><\/td>\nCertain indicators (glucose, hematocrit) depend on dehydration and food<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ferritin<\/a>, iron, vitamin B12<\/strong><\/td>\nFood can cause short-term fluctuations in levels<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coagulogram<\/strong><\/td>\nEating fatty foods can affect clotting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Tests that do not necessarily need to be taken on an empty stomach<\/strong><\/h2>\n